Situated in San Francisco’s southwest section, Lake Merced is the largest lake or reservoir inside of San Francisco. San Francisco State University and the Pacific Ocean form part of Lake Merced’s boundary with three golf courses – the Olympic Club, San Francisco Golf Club and TPC Harding – as another part.
As a natural lake, Lake Merced at one point provided a habitat for the Ohlone Indians. It also proved valuable during World War I and World War II when one of Lake Merced’s other boundaries – Fort Funston – was used as a military installment. After World War II, Lake Merced became a national park in 1963.
